How would you describe your role in one sentence? 

My role is about helping to enable the Hospice to deliver care in a way that is safe for everyone impacted by what we do. 

Can you give us a potted history of your career so far?  

Very much a little bit of this, and a little bit of that. My undergraduate was in Drama and Theatre Studies, and so quite naturally my first job out of university was repairing watches.  

A little over a year later I decided I wasn’t cut out for the fast-paced life that is sitting at bench and tinkering with watches. It was then, just before the first Covid lockdown, that I joined the Hospice as a kitchen porter, and I stayed in that role until the summer of 21’, when I started as a trainee Health and Safety Officer. 

I’ve been in the department for almost 5 years now, and over that time I’ve been fortunate to receive a lot of support and training to help me develop further in my career. 

How long have you worked for the Hospice? 

6 years, which have absolutely flown by. It’s a real pleasure to come in everyday and work with a fantastic, passionate bunch of people! 

What three words would you use to describe Princess Alice Hospice? 

Caring, dedicated, and inspiring. 

What do you think other people would be surprised to know about your role?  

How collaborative it is! Almost everything I do is done with another employee, volunteer or department. I feel very fortunate to work across the organisation, as it gives me the opportunity to see the great work that everyone does. 

What personal qualities do you think you need to do your job?  

Perhaps the most important quality is the ability to listen. Everyone knows their own role so much better than I ever could. Being able to listen and understand a person’s role is key to making sure that they can do their work safely. 

Who have you learned the most from since starting work at the Hospice? 

Without a doubt my mentor Sarah, who I worked with until she left the Hospice last year. She is a fountain of knowledge, whose teaching I rely on every day. Her guidance and generosity not only helped me to grow into my role within Health and Safety, but it also made me a better person, both in and out of work. 

I’m also always learning a huge amount from Martin, our Head of Operations. His understanding of how the Hospice runs is staggeringly detailed, and I’m consistently amazed at how much information he is able to retain at any one time.